Developer LoreVault, along with publisher Nexon Games, have unveiled a new game that focuses on the history of Korea. Dubbed Woochi the Wayfarer, the game was announced with a teaser trailer which you can check out below. The game is currently being developed using Unreal Engine 5, and is targeting a launch on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. However, no release date has been announced so far.
The teaser trailer showcases the visual style that Woochi the Wayfarer is aiming for, blending fantasy elements with a photo-realistic look. Unfortunately, however, the trailer doesn’t showcase any of the gameplay. Rather, it is more focused on giving us a look at the general vibes and themes that the game will be going for by presenting what appears to be a story moment from Woochi the Wayfarer in a CG cutscene.
In the trailer, we get to see a mysterious shaman, known as a Myoan, chanting an incantation. Protagonist Woochi is drawn to this event, which ultimately culminates in the Myoan chanting and transforming into something supernatural, who then goes to tell Woochi that he should “Proclaim it to heaven – we rise again.” The nature of this entity and who it refers to when it says “we” will likely be revealed as more details about the game are officially unveiled.
The title has been described in the announcement as an action-adventure game. The protagonist – the eponymous Jeon Woochi – is a Dosa (The Mage of the Way), and must set out on an adventure that takes place during Korea’s Joseon era. The story itself will revolve around a centuries-old folktale in Korea. For context, the Joseon era itself was a long period marked by the country being ruled by the Great Joseon dynastic kingdom that lasted for 505 years between 1932 and 1897.
As a result of its setting, there will be quite a few themes that will be readily visible to modern players, like the period essentially marking the origins of what can be considered the modern Korean language and its various dialects, and even cultural aspects like norms and societal attitudes.
A few details of Woochi the Wayfarer have been confirmed, including the fact that the music of the title will be handled by Jung Jae-il, who is known for his work on the soundtracks of critically acclaimed works like Parasite and Squid Game. Development of the title is also slated to involve LoreVault collaborating with experts across various fields like Korean literature and traditional music to properly depict the Joseon era that the game is going for.
While we haven’t gotten too many details about the gameplay in Woochi the Wayfarer, the announcement does confirm that it will be an adventure game, and that players will make use of Woochi’s powers to fight against injustice and corruption throughout the land.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHH6xQT2-dw